November 12, 2008

countdown to christmas... our design team goes beyond the page

As her kids have already started the 'How many days till Christmas?' question and because Caz doesn't want to be caught by surprise that it is a week before Christmas and the lights are not still up like last year, she decided to make a Christmas countdown board to sit on the antique sewing machine near her front door.

She had been dying to have a play with the new BasicGrey Wassail products and was pleased at how well they fit in with the decor of the rest of her house. Caz created number cards which attached to the top of the board with hinged rings and the kids can simply flip one card over each day.

By the way, in case you need to untangle your Christmas lights, there is now exactly 6 weeks (only 42 days) left.

Carole created a couple of Christmas Decorations with the SEI Holly Lane pattern papers, ribbons and diecuts. The colours to the pattern papers are so vibrant and just beautiful for Christmas decorations, but they would also be lovely for Christmas gift tags and gift wrapping papers.

Carole created the wreath by cutting out a piece of chipboard shaped into a circle and then cutting out the centre, using the range of SEI Holly Pattern papers Carole cut out the patterns and then layering each piece over each other to form a wreath. The second decoration was created using the SEI Holly Lane Diecuts.

Looking for a tiny gift idea then how about these cute little lolly purses that Chris has created. Chris saw this idea on a tutorial by Angie Kennedy Juda (thanks Angie!) and thought they'd be perfect to place on the Christmas table this year as a little bomboniere for her guests. Since creating these little purses Chris's 10 year old daughter has decided she will also make some to give to her school friends instead of candy canes this year.

They are very easy to make and are the perfect craft activity for children 8yrs and older. To create these samples Chris has used Scenic Route Roxbury papers, Strano Miss Scarlet ribbon and Queen & Co. sequin and brad. And in the spirit of Christmas, the lovely Chris has supplied a tutorial so that you too can create them - you can find it here.

What a fabulous idea personalised snow globes are! Chris picked this one up at Harvey Norman ($9.95) and has made it even more personalised by decorating it with some left of Scenic Route Roxbury papers and some Strano ribbon. Chris has also used a Scenic Route chipboard sticker 'together' and if you check the close up pictures you will see that Chris has also rubbed a couple of tiny snowflake rub-ons directly onto the snow globe. The snow globe has room on the other side for another picture.

Need to put together a secret santa gift on a budget? Chris saw this easy to make origami box on Nicole Heady's blog (thanks Nicole!) and has put together an example using the Scenic Route Roxbury papers, chipboard pieces, cardstock stickers and some Heidi Swapp glitter flowers and tulle ribbon. Chris has also put together step by step instructions for these, so you can all make one too! Click here to see. Place some chocolates inside and your secret santa gift is complete!

Other ideas for this box include: A gift for the teacher, filling it with some yummy home made goodies, or a gift to keep aside for those visitors that drop in at Christmas time that you weren't expecting.

Comments

countdown to christmas... our design team goes beyond the page

As her kids have already started the 'How many days till Christmas?' question and because Caz doesn't want to be caught by surprise that it is a week before Christmas and the lights are not still up like last year, she decided to make a Christmas countdown board to sit on the antique sewing machine near her front door.

She had been dying to have a play with the new BasicGrey Wassail products and was pleased at how well they fit in with the decor of the rest of her house. Caz created number cards which attached to the top of the board with hinged rings and the kids can simply flip one card over each day.

By the way, in case you need to untangle your Christmas lights, there is now exactly 6 weeks (only 42 days) left.

Carole created a couple of Christmas Decorations with the SEI Holly Lane pattern papers, ribbons and diecuts. The colours to the pattern papers are so vibrant and just beautiful for Christmas decorations, but they would also be lovely for Christmas gift tags and gift wrapping papers.

Carole created the wreath by cutting out a piece of chipboard shaped into a circle and then cutting out the centre, using the range of SEI Holly Pattern papers Carole cut out the patterns and then layering each piece over each other to form a wreath. The second decoration was created using the SEI Holly Lane Diecuts.

Looking for a tiny gift idea then how about these cute little lolly purses that Chris has created. Chris saw this idea on a tutorial by Angie Kennedy Juda (thanks Angie!) and thought they'd be perfect to place on the Christmas table this year as a little bomboniere for her guests. Since creating these little purses Chris's 10 year old daughter has decided she will also make some to give to her school friends instead of candy canes this year.

They are very easy to make and are the perfect craft activity for children 8yrs and older. To create these samples Chris has used Scenic Route Roxbury papers, Strano Miss Scarlet ribbon and Queen & Co. sequin and brad. And in the spirit of Christmas, the lovely Chris has supplied a tutorial so that you too can create them - you can find it here.

What a fabulous idea personalised snow globes are! Chris picked this one up at Harvey Norman ($9.95) and has made it even more personalised by decorating it with some left of Scenic Route Roxbury papers and some Strano ribbon. Chris has also used a Scenic Route chipboard sticker 'together' and if you check the close up pictures you will see that Chris has also rubbed a couple of tiny snowflake rub-ons directly onto the snow globe. The snow globe has room on the other side for another picture.

Need to put together a secret santa gift on a budget? Chris saw this easy to make origami box on Nicole Heady's blog (thanks Nicole!) and has put together an example using the Scenic Route Roxbury papers, chipboard pieces, cardstock stickers and some Heidi Swapp glitter flowers and tulle ribbon. Chris has also put together step by step instructions for these, so you can all make one too! Click here to see. Place some chocolates inside and your secret santa gift is complete!

Other ideas for this box include: A gift for the teacher, filling it with some yummy home made goodies, or a gift to keep aside for those visitors that drop in at Christmas time that you weren't expecting.